Stockdale Family Reunion

Scott trading in his gold for "Cold Hard Candy"
Scott and Robert panning for gold
Robert getting a good ole fashioned shave
The Stockdale Family Reunion was in July at "This is the Place State Park" in Salt Lake. We spent a good part of the day checking out the houses, participating in the activities, and listening to stories. We went into "The Pay" home, a very small one room cabin. It belonged to the grandparents of Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley, imagine our surprise when the women sitting in the cabin was Sister Hinckley's sister. We spent about 30 minutes or so listening to her tell stories of her family. We took train rides, Scott helped with the printing of the Deseret News, it was a fun day.

Family Pictures

The Stockdale & Cobb Family
The Whitney Clan

Saturday we got all the family together for a long awaited and much needed family picture. We went to my parents friends house and took them in their back yard. Their property runs into the mountains, the leaves were the beautiful fall colors and the day couldn't have been more perfect. We finished the afternoon with a Halloween party in my parents back yard, we had food and games for the kids. It was fun having everyone together, it will be the last Halloween before the oldest grandson leaves for a mission next year. Wow....how time flies.

Long overdue update

Scott - Pioneer Trek with our Stake August 2010 (he is on the left with the sky blue shirt)


It has been awhile since I last posted on my blog, so I guess this is a catchup edition. Summer went by way to quickly for me, I wasn't anywhere ready for Scott to return to school. The cool month of June made it seem like we got jipped on the summer. Sadly we only went to Cherry Hill water park a few times this summer. Scott didn't really get into much this year, he's getting to old for it I guess. He went to a week of Scout Camp at an organized camp, he was busy from sun up to sun down. He ended the summer by going on a 3 day Pioneer Trek with our Stake, an experience he won't soon forget. He gained a greater appreciation for the pioneers. Scott started 8th grade this year, so far so good. He is officially taller than his mother, which he really thinks is SWEET. His feet are growing at a rate to expensive to keep up with.He took a break from playing Soccer this year.

Starting at the beginning of August we had a house guest of the 4 -legged kind. My sister and her husband relocated from back east to Utah. They needed a place for the dog to hang until they found a home. I love their dog Bella, a 5 year old Australian Shepherd, a well behaved dog, she became my walking partner. She and our dog Buddy had a love hate relationship. She went back to my sister's this week, they finally closed and moved into their home. They only live 15 minutes away so we can see my sister, her family and Bella often.

Whitney and Jesse bought their 1st townhouse and moved in the end of August. It was in the still being built stage when they found it, so they go to pick the color of carpet. It is a beautiful home with plenty of space for their family of 4. They live about 10 minutes away, can still see the Grandchildren often

I am continually busy between PTA, babysitting the Grandchildren and running the house. It seems there is never a dull moment around the Stockdale house. Just this morning I took Robert to the E.R. for kidney stones. Life just continues on each day. Not a fun thing for anyone to go through. 2010 has not been Robert's year for good health. Hoping next year will be better.

Kaiser boy

My cute grandson Kaiser is 18 months old. He is such a little man, he loves to explore, climb and play outside. He loves the tramp, the slide, and running on the lawn. He will come right next to your legs and hold up his arms, he wants you to pick him up. When he wants a kiss he will left his head and turn his cheek. His smile still melts my heart, and now he has the laugh to go with it. He is my lil handsome man, can't believe he's growing up so fast.

Memphis TN

BB Kings Blue's club on Beale Street The View from our hotel - the Autozone Ball park....watched fireworks one night from there after a game.

Another view from our room, The Fed Ex forum....the plaza below was filled with vendors on the weekend. It had been raining that day so they all packed up and went home.

The infamous Hooters was our main view out our hotel room....not the best thing to see.

Alice and I climbing aboard the Lisa Marie Airplane at Graceland

Laney & I enjoying a ride on the Trolley, that was our daily transportation back and forth from our hotel to the Convention Center

More of my Utah PTA friends standing in front of the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King was killed. The wreath signifies the place of his death.

Our first night in Memphis on Beale street, the banner in the back welcomes National PTA to Memphis

My friend Laney and I in Memphis TN

Some of my friends from Utah PTA at our favorite restaurant in Memphis-The Arcade

My roomies and good friends at Graceland

In just one of the rooms that holds all of Elvis' gold records at Graceland

My friend Alice and I on Beale Street in Memphis, ready to hear some Blue's Music

June 9th-14th I was in Memphis, TN for the National PTA Convention. We stayed one block off of Beale street, so we could hear the night life into the wee hours of the morning. We went to Beale street almost every night to check out the shops, see all the people and even went to a Blue's Club to hear the music. Everyday we rode their trolley back and forth to our convention, it was the cheapest transportation, each trolley was different and unique. We went to Graceland for an afternoon, we spent a few hours going through the Civil Rights Museum. I didn't know that Dr. Martin Luther King was killed there. After going through the museum I was embarrassed of how cruel African Americans were treated back then.

The weather was rainy the first couple of days and then it was very hot and humid. I am so glad I live in the Desert where it's a dry heat. I had a lot of fun hanging with my PTA friends and just having some girl time. Spending 5 nights in a hotel didn't hurt either, having breakfast cooked for me and eating out....although towards the end I really just wanted a home cooked meal. The food in the south is very heavy, I was sick of smelling Barbecue by the time I came home. I haven't been called Mam so many times in my life, they are very polite and friendly in the South.

Vacation in St. George

The playground at the Condo

The view of St. George from the Condo

Another view of St. George, makes me sad to think it could be the last from the condo's.

May 16th-22nd we went to St. George, Utah. We stayed in my parents condo, there was just Scott, Robert & I along with my parents in their 2 bedroom condo. It was only the 2nd time that none of my siblings were able to join us, so it made for a very quite week.

Scott and I spent every morning but 1 hanging out by the pool, that was even quite as there weren't that many people staying at that condo's that week, at least they weren't at the pool the same times we were. Robert went golfing on 2 different mornings with my Dad, his last golf game was by himself. My Dad was busy with business and Scott & I didn't want to go....sorry we hauled my clubs all the way there and I didn't use them. We had the traditional Monday night dinner at the "Pizza Factory", can't go to St. George without eating there.

The weather was perfect for us, since the best day for cooler temps in Las Vegas was Tuesday that was the day we headed South. We all rode in our car since it was a little bigger and could hold the 5 of us more comfortably. We had fun in Vegas, saw our favorite sites, The Mirage, Caesar's Palace, the M&M store, the Coke Factory. Ate lunch at the buffet cafe' at the Belagio, and enjoyed the beautiful flower garden. The day went by so fast and we wanted to get back to St. George before it got too dark. We did make a side trip to see the Hoover Dam, we had never been there before, we only spent long enough there to snap a few pictures and then we were off.

Jeana got to go to lunch one day with a friend from her childhood days that she still keeps in touch with, we enjoyed lunch at In & Out Burger, I had never eaten there before. It was a good lunch, and enjoyed the time I spent with my friend.

The week as always went by way to fast, sadly we found out towards the end of the week that this may be one of our last time to stay at the condo's. They were bought by new owner's who have done away with Bonus weeks, which is how we always got a condo. So the last few days became more sentimental to me, we have been going to St. George for about 13 years, it makes me sad to think that it's come to an end. I have many fond memories over the years going with our family, my siblings and their families, time spent at the pool, shopping the outlets, early morning excerise walks with my sisters, big dinner parties at the Pizza Factory. Great memories for myself, Robert and our children. Hopefully we will be able to still share a few more over the coming years.

Trip to Virginia/DC

The Washington DC Temple, this picture doesn't do it justice. It is the most beautiful Temples that I have seen.

Scott awaiting our flight to Virgina, this was his 1st time flying. He looks to excited.

Took marshmallows for a snack, he found these bunched together and decided to be funny. Look no window next to him, his 1st flight so I request a window seat, and this is what he gets, a wall.

This was one of those breath taking moments of the trip, to see the Lincoln Monument, it gave me the chills to be so close to this.

The White House

The Smithosian Museum of Art, this is a Picasso painting.

Another Picasso, Scott looks so thrilled to be in this museum.

This is the Smithosian Museum of Natural History, the Gems, Stone and Minerals section

The whole necklace is covered in diamonds, I think the blue stone is a diamond as well.

A view from the second floor

Standing on the Mall looking at the Capitol, it was almost surreal.

Washington Monument

The Concord at the Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport.

The space Shuttle -Enterprise

The Pepsi plane I captured for Pepsi lovin' husband.

The back of the shuttle, those are huge

Standing down looking up at the Space Shuttle

The nose of the Shuttle

This is one huge aircraft

Scott and his military helipcopter

Scott and I had the chance to spend 9 full days in Virgina tending my 2 nieces and 2 nephews while my sister and her husband went on a Carribean Cruise. Their home is about 30 minutes from DC. We went into DC 3 days on the Metro, the first day was less then memorable, the experience of driving in a city I've never been, trying to figure out the Metro...and getting help from people in the East....not so great. They aren't the warm and fuzzy kind of people we have in the West. I had the 2 youngest children with us each time we went into DC. My niece is 3, I pushed her in her umberella stroller around DC. I for sure got my excerise each day with that task. We saw many sights, mainly focused on the Smithosian Museums, and sites around the Mall, we saw the Capitol from a distance. The Mall is longer than one would think, not a hop, skip and a jump. On Friday I forgot my camera, I left it in my purse back at my sister's...of course that is the day I needed it. We went to see the Lincoln Monument which was another surreal experience, I stood with reverence and awe looking at President Lincoln. It gave me goose bumps to see this part of history. We walked around from the Lincoln Monument to get a closer look of the White House, I didn't think we had gone far enough East. So we turned around and started heading South to the main side walk. As we were almost to the street I saw a militaryhelicopter flying toward us, flying right in front of the Washington Monument. I told Scott that President Obama was in the helicopter, it proceeded North to land on the White House lawn. There was a crowd of people surrounding a fence that was still a distance from the White House, we had the video camera and where able to capture all this excitement on Video. We didn't get to see President Obama exit the helicopter, but we knew he was in there, we saw plenty of Secret Service guarding the entrance of the White House. That pretty much was the icing on the cake for the week, I don't like President Obama, but respect the office which he holds. It was way cool to be able to be there for that. On Saturday I took all 5 kids and drove to the Washington DC Temple which is actually in Maryland. The GPS in my sister's van became my new best friend while I was there. What beautiful country in the East, the drive to the Temple had me going through a park, but it was more like driving through a forest than anything The Temple was so breath takingly beautiful, we went to the Visitor's Center and then walked around the Temple grounds. The Temple is nestled in forest area, tall trees everywhere. On the way back to Virginia I was heading the wrong direction on the Interstate, so when I was able to turn around and head back the right direction the Temple was in front of me, the view undescribable. The story is told that many car accidents happen in that area as people get distracted by the beauty of the Temple, it looks as if it is suspended in air. It was a trip that was exhausting, sometimes frustrating. full of adventure... but well worth it. Thanks to my sister and her husband for making this possible, it is and experience that Scott & I won't soon forget.

Update at the Stockdale's

We have been married for 26 1/2 years and we have never had as much goings on with health and other issues as we have these last 3 months. Robert's heart is still not fixed so to speak, after our big snow storm last week and shoveling 7.5" of snow his heart started with an irregular heart beat again. Since his eposide with his heart he got a stethoscope to check his heart morning and night, that is how he knew his heart was out of whack again. After a couple of days of this he called his cardiologist and was scheduled for an E.K.G. That also showed his heart beat was irregular, so he was started on yet another pill.....count so far 4 different medicines he is on since the eposide on March 3rd. For someone who has always been healthy and the only pills he has taken to this point are vitamins...this is a big deal. He will go back this coming Monday for another E.K.G. to see if the lastest pill is doing what it is suppose to do and that is send his heart back into a normal beat. He is scheduled for a big test in May where he will have dye put through his body and a test to see if he has any blockage anywhere that could be the cause of all this. I hope the cardiologist can finally figure out what the problem is and soon.

The middle of March I went downstairs one day and discovered that our 19 year old water heater and finallly decided to give up the ghost....a small drop at a time. We knew that it was time to put this very reliable yet old very old water heater to bed. Thank goodness we have connections at R.C. Willey :) where we can get a good deal on a water heater, our friend installed it for us. Works like a charm and the water is definietly hotter than our old one due to a lot more insulation in the new heater. There is nothing that Scott loves more than a hot shower. But things always seem to come in 3's right? Last Monday, after doing laundry all day and my last load was in the dryer, I realized that my dryer had dryed the towels for ever 3 hours. :( UGH!! That is not a good sign for any dryer....it was also dying...after drying many a loads for 13 years. Robert is trying to see if he can fix it before we go and invest in a new one.....it is not convenient to be without a dryer. You don't realize as with any appliance how much you depend on it until you don't have it.

During March our family all got sick, it started with me getting a cold from Whitney, this wasn't just your average cold, it also came with a cough, laryingitis, sore throat and a few days later a sinus infection. I got on a antibotic and it took about 2 weeks to get my voice back, still have a slight cough and nose issues. Next came Robert, he got it in the form of a cough, a very deep baritone voice and stuffiness. He was actually home in bed for few days, and with the past 3 months he has taken many a sick days off....which by the way he had plenty of since he has been fairly healthy over his last 12+ years at R.C. Willey. Then came Scott, he started the week before Spring break with a sore throat that went very quickly to a very bad case of strep, the 2nd day of his missing school and sounding like a complete stranger when he talked....I took him to the Dr. and he took one look at his throat and said,"Oh my", lets get a culture done. Scott's throat was so sore and the nurse was not gentle when she swabbed his throat it brought him to tears. The test was positive and he was put on a Z-pak for 3 days to fight the infection. He ended missing the 4 of 5 days a school that week, had to get a Dr. note to excuse him from school, plus pick up all his homework that he missed.

The following week was Spring break, no thanks to the bad weather we had for the weekend and first 2 days of the week. We stayed home since there was no place to go with such icky weather, we went on Wednesday to spend the day with my friend in Utah County. One of her boys is 13 and he and Scott and his older brothers loved playing on the Xbox all day. My friend and I enjoyed lunch and shopping at some cute boutiques, just hanging and talking and then pizza for dinner. It was a fairly quite Spring break, minus the trip to the Dr. and the broken dryer. I am looking forward to less stressful times...if there is such a thing.